Disabled-friendly coach in mail, express trains

New Delhi :Railways will endeavour to provide at least one disabled-friendly coach in mail and express trains. As on March 31, 2015 disabled-friendly coaches with wider entrance doors for wheelchair access are more than 5 per cent of the total holding of the Railways coaches, according to Railway Ministry data.

Second Class-cum-luggage and brake van with PWD (Persons with Disabilities) compartment coaches and power cars for Garib Rath trains having provisions for PWD compartment with air-conditioning are already in service. In these coaches, mobility-impaired person may require help for boarding.

However, accessibility to trains from low-level platforms has been identified as one of the challenge areas under the ‘Navrachna-Innovation’ initiative.

For assistance to visually-impaired travellers as well as those with normal vision, integrated Braille signages are being provided on newly-manufactured coaches. Retrofitting on existing coaches has also been taken up in a phased manner, an official said.